Which statement is NOT an accurate description of structural racism?

• A. It refers to the collective way history, culture, and institutions reinforce and perpetuate racialized outcomes, even in absence of racist intent.
• B. It is narrowly focused on individual prejudices and stereotypes.
• C. It is broad, touches on all aspects of society and is the foundation from which the other types of racism emerge.
• D. It includes indicators such as power in inequalities, unequal access to opportunities, and differing policy outcomes by race, whether or not intentional.

Answer: (B)

Structural racism is about systemic patterns in history, culture, and institutions that produce racialized outcomes across society, even without racist intent. This means it operates through policies, practices, and norms that advantage one group over others, across many areas of life.

The statement that is not accurate focuses on individual prejudices and stereotypes. That description centers on personal attitudes, which is about individual racism, not the broader, structural forces that shape outcomes regardless of what people consciously believe.

The other statements fit structural racism well: it is broad and touches many parts of society, serving as a foundation from which other forms of racism can emerge; it includes indicators like power inequalities, unequal access to opportunities, and differing policy outcomes by race, even when those outcomes aren’t the result of intentional acts. For example, housing and education systems can produce persistent disparities through policies and practices that advantage some groups and disadvantage others, even in the absence of overt hate.